Do you think it is best to just play soccer or is it better to play multiple sports with the assumption for this discussion that soccer is the main sport. Do you remember the Bo Jackson commercials where he played all the sports and advocated cross training. However, most soccer clubs only advocated playing soccer full time and frown on kids playing other sports.
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All college coaches stress multiple sports are better for a soccer player. Develop different muscles, thought process and coordination skillsOriginally posted by Unregistered View Post -
by middle school most kids that play soccer don't have the height or skills for competitive basketball, think tackle football is too violent and find baseball boring (soccer and baseball are polar opposites). so that leaves you with maybe track that a lot of soccer kids seem to like or maybe volleyball. playing for fun or rec play it can be anything at any time - I assume you are referring to competitive sports and replied only for play at a competitive level. its not as big of an issue for most players as you would think.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Cross training is nice but that works with other sports. Soccer is different. Bo Jackson was a freak athlete.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
Name the last US Superstar that played multiple sports. Name the last Spanish, Brazilian, German, Swedish, English, French Superstar that crosstrained.
Well the US doesn't have a superstar (Pulisic is closest). The other ones don't.
College coaches don't advocate cross training. They go to Europe and South America and other countries to find their best players...so no they don't advocate it
Soccer is different. Goals for your child will be different. If your goal is for your child to play professionally then no cross training. If it's to play collegiately, then most train with soccer and play DA or ECNL. If it's too be good at multiple sports and say your child is a 6-sport athlete, then do it.
Just don't listen to people on here that say "well there was one kid I knew". The proven way in soccer is specializing and not playing a million games a year. Not a thing in the US.Comment
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Ever see a Spanish, Brazilian, German, Swedish, English, or French soccer player try to throw a ball? How about sink a basket? No hand-eye coordination.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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John McEnroe played tennis, soccer, and basketball. When asked what the benefit was to the three. He said that all required good footwork.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
What point are you trying to make?
When it comes to soccer it's better to specialize. You don't need to specialize in hand eye. Soccer benefits all other sports. Not all sports benefit soccer.Comment
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As a Yankees fan my favorite example of this is Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. He was a 2 sport star at Minnesota and was drafted by the MLB Padres, NBA Hawks, ABA Stars and NFL Vikings.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
Hakeem Olajuwon was the top rated goalie prospect for Nigeria.
LeBron James was offered a full ride scholarship to numerous colleges to play football, including Norte Dame. He was a high school All State/American receiver in Ohio.
John Elway was the #1 overall pick for the Yankees and Broncos.
College Football Hall of Famer Kirk Gibson was the MLB MVP and won multiple World Series.
Primetime Deion Sanders played in the Super Bowl and World Series.
NFL Pro Bowler and MLB All Star Brian Jordan.
Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers were star basketball players in college before NFL.
Jackie Robinson and Jim Thorpe. Names are legendary in multiple sports.Comment
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Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
Soccer. Soccer players ding dong. What soccer players. Do anyone of you read?Comment
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And why is our men's college soccer system littered with foreigners that are not dual athletes. Why do they get offered SOCCER scholarships and can't throw a ball.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
Because they specialize early and can out play any American soccer player. Just look at the college rosters. If it were up to coaches they would only recruit foreigners. Not "cross trainers"Comment
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This is not true, ask the president of West Pines United.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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Soccer specialization helps with SOCCER skills. Cross training helps with other things that then enhance soccer skills. Cross training also develops other muscles and helps reduce injury risk. It also helps reduce burnout by providing variety. That said, it doesn't have to be something official or organized or certainly high level. Kids should be encouraged to do a variety of sports/activities. If time is limited then HS aged player should work with a fitness trainer who can help them improve troublesome areas and improve strength and conditioning, again lowering injury risk.
One exception: Basketball is definitely good for GK'sComment
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I love how idiots love to hear themselves think and then they write it on here and is super vague, very general, very stupid.Originally posted by Unregistered View PostComment
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I have heard more than one PT say that specialized training leads to overuse injuries and that cross training provides a better core foundation for the body. Knee injuries in youth players are said be occurring with more frequency.
I am not doc or PT but the theory does make for an interesting discussion.Comment
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What they refer to is not specializing in its truest form. What they mean is in terms of youth soccer or any other sport that plays too many games over the course of the year and the added tournaments that kids play which have between 3-5 games a weekend.Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
For example, if you hit your head on a wall for two hours consistently every other Saturday you might be fine and have time to recover in between. Now, go hit your head 2 hours a day every weekend (sat and sun) and several times a year do it up to 5 times in a weekend.
Seriously try it and check back with us.Comment
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